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Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective

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A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity Loss & Dynamics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 19527

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Francisco E. Fontúrbel

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Guest Editor

Instituto de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Av. Universidad 330, Valparaíso 2373223, Chile
Interests: biodiversity; community ecology; ecological interactions; forest ecology; global change; parasitic plants; pollination; seed dispersal

Dr. Maureen M. Murúa

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Guest Editor

Centro GEMA: Genómica, Ecología y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Estudios Interdisciplinarios, Universidad Mayor, Camino La Pirámide 5750, Santiago 8580745, Chile
Interests: ecological interactions; climate change; functional diversity; genetic diversity; plant reproduction; pollination; species invasions; specialization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a forthcoming Special Issue of Diversity focused on biodiversity associated with productive lands (crop fields, agroforestry systems, or forestry plantations). This Special Issue aims to gather different points of view from the Latin American perspective, as this region comprises many mega-biodiverse countries but is also experiencing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss due to land use change. Natural ecosystems throughout Latin America have been converted to productive lands, posing a major threat to the native biodiversity. A growing population, along with an international market with increasing demands, is accelerating land conversion, resulting in complex habitat mosaics comprising natural habitat remnants, productive lands (under different types of management), and hybrid systems. A couple of decades ago, productive systems were considered biological deserts. Now, it is recognized that they can be habitats for many species but subject to changing community assembly rules, leading to non-analog communities.

On the other hand, the value of the ecosystem services that biodiversity provides to productive lands has been acknowledged and can be managed through a set of practices that aim to enhance biodiversity in productive systems. We often refer these practices as “ecological intensification”, which is becoming increasingly common in agricultural production. Thus, shifting from intensive agriculture to a biodiversity-friendly model represents a win–win situation, which could help Latin America to reduce its current biodiversity loss rates.

This Special Issue is an exciting opportunity to synthesize the knowledge available in this area. Latin America is a region as diverse as its people and its culture but is subject to many environmental problems. Therefore, we aim to integrate general patterns from the large diversity of case studies, habitats, and taxonomic groups. These general patterns would allow us to inform management and conservation decisions to reconciliate biodiversity, wellbeing, and sustainable production. If you are interested in contributing or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Dr. Francisco E. Fontúrbel
Dr. Maureen M. Murúa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diversity is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Crop fields
Agroforestry systems
Forestry plantations
Pollination
Seed dispersal
Invasive species
Ecological intensification
Intensive agriculture

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1768 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Floral Patches and Their Impact on Pollinator Attraction and Yield Production on Cucurbita maxima Var. Paine in Central Chile

by Santiago Donoso and Maureen Murúa

Diversity 2021, 13(12), 608; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13120608 - 24 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2065

Abstract

In recent decades, it has been shown that pollination deficit can significantly affect crop production. Moreover, now it is known that the appropriate management of pollination can increase the quantity and quality of yields. Therefore, pollination appears to be a key component in modern agriculture. This study aimed to determine the impact of floral patch addition on the quality and quantity of Cucurbita maxima fruit production. To this end, we manually added a set of ornamental plant species to the edge of the crop and monitored the pollinator diversity and visit frequency, as well as the seed set and sugar content of the pumpkin yield, in treatment and control parcels. The results showed that there was a higher visit rate in the treated parcel. Only the sugar content, and not the seed set, was affected by the addition of ornamental species and the pollinator visit rate. These findings indicate that the addition of flowering plants can favor different components of the crop yield of this species, but future studies should sample on a broader spatial and temporal scale in order to certify the generalizability of our results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective)

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13 pages, 1343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Dams on Vertebrate Diversity: A Global Analysis

by Mauricio Bohada-Murillo, Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa and Francisco E. Fontúrbel

Diversity 2021, 13(11), 528; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13110528 - 24 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3232

Abstract

Dams are crucial for water supply in human populations and are becoming more common globally for hydroelectric power generation. Dams alter natural habitats and their biodiversity; however, studies are inconclusive about their effects on them. This study aimed to examine the effects of dams on vertebrates and the determinants of changes in global biodiversity and their relationship with critical areas for conservation. We evaluated the effects of dams on vertebrate richness and abundance. We performed a meta-analysis based on 120 case studies. We evaluated the overall effect on richness and abundance and examined these effects regarding taxa, disturbance type, latitudinal zone, zoogeographic zone, biodiversity hotspots, dam size and purpose, and species extinction risk. We conducted an overall analysis that included all species, and then we conducted separate analyses for terrestrial and aquatic species. Dams had a negative effect on vertebrate richness but not on vertebrate abundance. These effects were influenced by larger dams with fragmentation and were more pronounced within hotspots and in countries with a low species extinction risk. Such negative effects were explained by terrestrial vertebrates (particularly birds and mammals) because species richness and the abundance of aquatic vertebrates (fish) were not affected by dams in any case. Our results showed that habitat fragmentation created by large dams changes vertebrate communities, negatively affecting species richness in some areas of conservation concern. We propose implementing reservoirs in areas where they would have a lower impact on biodiversity and avoiding large dams in priority areas for conservation and where endangered species inhabit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective)

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14 pages, 1198 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Growth and Yield of Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum According to Soil Management in Agroforestry Systems: A Case Study in the Brazilian Amazon

by Agust Sales, Sílvio Nolasco de Oliveira Neto, Haroldo Nogueira de Paiva, Helio Garcia Leite, Marco Antonio Siviero and Sabrina Benmuyal Vieira

Diversity 2021, 13(11), 511; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13110511 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2210

Abstract

Studies on applying of soil management practices in the management of paricá and the effects on growth and yield are essential to auxiliary its cultivation and would allow us to inform management and conservation decisions to reconciliate biodiversity, wellbeing, and sustainable production. This case study aimed to evaluate the growth and yield of paricá at different soil management practices, including consortium with an agricultural production, in the Brazilian Amazon. Paricá was implanted, consorted with soybean in the first year, and maize in the second, in a 5 × 2 m spacing. The treatments T1 = subsoiling, basal dressing, top-dressing, inoculation of microorganisms and consortium with soybean/maize were applied. In T2, T3, T4, and T5, we applied the same practices of T1, except subsoiling (T2), basal dressing (T3), top-dressing (T4) and inoculation of microorganisms (T5). T6 was the control, which used none of these practices, including the consortium with soybean/maize. The results indicate that the highest rate of plant survival occurred in T2, while T3 and T4 promoted greater intraspecific competition, compromising the growth in dbh and the yield (m³ ha⁻¹) of plants in future ages. Growth in dbh and th and the yield of plants in the soybean/maize consortium period was higher in T2 and T6. In future ages, the dbh and yield of plants demonstrated higher growth trends in T6, T1, and T5. Agroforestry practices of soil management influence the growth and yield of paricá plants. However, there is a tendency for greater growth and yield for paricá plants cultivated in the absence of agroforestry practices for soil management proposed in this case study. When opting for AFS (paricá intercropped with soybean and maize), it is recommended for paricá a subsoiling, fertilization, and inoculation of microorganisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective)

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11 pages, 1118 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bird Functional Diversity in Agroecosystems and Secondary Forests of the Tropical Andes

by Vanessa Velásquez-Trujillo, Juan F. Betancurt-Grisales, Angela M. Vargas-Daza, Carlos E. Lara, Fredy A. Rivera-Páez, Francisco E. Fontúrbel and Gabriel J. Castaño-Villa

Diversity 2021, 13(10), 493; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13100493 - 09 Oct 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2977

Abstract

Agricultural systems have increased in extension and intensity worldwide, altering vertebrate functional diversity, ecosystem functioning, and ecosystemic services. However, the effects of open monoculture crops on bird functional diversity remain little explored, particularly in highly biodiverse regions such as the tropical Andes. We aim to assess the functional diversity differences of bird guilds between monoculture crops (coffee, cocoa, and citrus) and secondary forests. We use four functional diversity indices (Rao Q, Functional Richness, Functional Evenness, and Functional Divergence) related to relevant morphological, life history, and behavioral traits. We find significant differences in functional diversity between agroecosystem and forest habitats. Particularly, bird functional diversity is quite homogeneous among crop types. Functional traits related to locomotion (body weight, wing-chord length, and tail length), nest type (closed), and foraging strata (canopy and understory) are dominant at the agroecosystems. The bird assemblages found at the agroecosystems are more homogeneous in terms of functional diversity than those found at the secondary forests, as a result of crop structure and management. We recommend promoting more diverse agroecosystems to enhance bird functional diversity and reduce their effects on biodiversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective)

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14 pages, 2206 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Ecological Indicators for Remnant Vegetation Strips as Functional Biological Corridors in Chilean Vineyards

by Javiera Díaz-Forestier, Sebastián Abades, Nélida Pohl, Olga Barbosa, Karina Godoy, Gabriella L. Svensson, María I. Undurraga, Camila Bravo, Camila García, Meredith Root-Bernstein, Juan J. Armesto and Juan L. Celis-Diez

Diversity 2021, 13(9), 447; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13090447 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3174

Abstract

Mediterranean central Chile is globally recognized as a hotspot for terrestrial biodiversity due to its high endemism and massive habitat loss. However, within the rural landscape of central Chile, significant extents of natural areas remain, especially on less productive, steep slopes, and vegetation strips extending from the surrounding hills to agricultural areas. Accordingly, vegetation strips or corridors, within lowland farms, constitute key elements to support the conservation of biodiversity in rural landscapes. To assess the ecological performance of corridors in 22 commercials vineyards in central Chile, we characterized them in terms of width-, length-, area-, and perimeter-to-area ratios, as well as the number of connections with natural areas. Based on a set of previously defined ecological indicators (species, functional groups, and structural components), we compared their occurrence in corridors within vineyards and in the surrounding natural areas. We evaluated the effects of corridor attributes on the occurrence of the selected ecological indicators, using a generalized linear mixed model with each vineyard as a random factor. The area, width, and length of vegetation corridors varied widely (1.2–86.3 ha, 10.5–95 m, and 380–5000 m, respectively). We found significant differences in the occurrence of indicators between corridors and natural areas. All sampled ecological indicators in corridors showed a negative relationship with the distance to the nearest natural area. Vegetation strips within vineyards represent important opportunities for biodiversity conservation that significantly enhance habitat quality in the agricultural landscape for biodiversity and habitat connectivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective)

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Review

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 3316 KiB

Open AccessReview

Local Actions to Tackle a Global Problem: A Multidimensional Assessment of the Pollination Crisis in Chile

by Lorena Vieli, Maureen M. Murúa, Luis Flores-Prado, Gastón O. Carvallo, Carlos E. Valdivia, Giselle Muschett, Manuel López-Aliste, Constanza Andía, Christian Jofré-Pérez and Francisco E. Fontúrbel

Diversity 2021, 13(11), 571; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/d13110571 - 08 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5012

Abstract

In the last decades, pollinators have drastically declined as a consequence of anthropogenic activities that have local and global impacts. The food industry has been expanding intensive agriculture crops, many of them dependent on animal pollination, but simultaneously reducing native pollinator habitats. Chile is a good example of this situation. Chile is becoming an agro-alimentary powerhouse in Latin America, where intensive agriculture expansion is performed at the expense of natural lands, posing a major threat to biodiversity. Here, we discussed the drivers responsible for the decline of pollinators (including habitat loss, pesticides, invasive species, and climate change) and its synergistic effects. This is particularly critical considering that Chile is a hotspot of endemic bee species locally adapted to specific habitats (e.g., Mediterranean-type ecosystems). However, there is a lack of data and monitoring programs that can provide evidence of their conservation status and contribution to crop yields. Based on our analysis, we identified information gaps to be filled and key threats to be addressed to reconcile crop production and biodiversity conservation. Addressing the local context is fundamental to undertake management and conservation actions with global impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity in Productive Systems: A Latin American Perspective)

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